Monday’s biggest movers: Netflix retreats 7%

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of Dell Inc., Netflix Inc., and Zynga Inc. made big moves during U.S. trading Monday, while General Motors Co. and Microsoft Corp. were among top trending tickers.

Top tickers trending

$MSFT: Microsoft
MSFT, -0.38%
ends the session 0.7% lower despite getting some good news earlier. A U.S. judge ruled against a request by Google’s Motorola Mobility to ban the sale of Microsoft products, including Xbox and Windows, according to media reports. Microsoft and Motorola have been fighting in court over the fair price to pay for Motorola’s patents related to wireless LAN and video standards. See: Judge denies injunction in Microsoft-Motorola suit

Meanwhile, Michael Comeau at Minyanville suggests Windows 8 failed to revive PC sales because the personal computer has evolved to become a “toaster.” “It’s not a source of interest in and of itself — it’s a tool for getting a job done,” he said. See: Windows 8 and the toasterization of the PC

@situate: If the PC is a toaster, is $MSFT toast?

@bbolan1: When do price cuts come for the Surface? $MSFT

@jonsticha: Hey $MSFT, why not join the party? #specialdividend

@TraderDR: I was wrong, there’s been a huge resurgence of $MSFT hate articles in the last 2 weeks -2008 levels

@Mr_Cain_Thaler: Why was $GM allowed to keep its old ticker. Can we at least throw up an asterisk on that thing!?

$GOOG: Google Inc.
GOOG, -1.10%
was drawing some chatter as the Twitter world discussed some technical levels.

@BenCBanks: $AMZN $GOOG have been good - needs to break or something to let others in. It’s chasing right now but it is nice for those who are in.

@RedDogT3Live: $GOOG opening above $700. I sold too early as it was a nice trade last week from the targeted $670-$675 area. Trim and trail

Then there is this tweet, although it’s not clear whether it was in jest:

@macropterous: Dear @google, Where can I get a Nexus Q? I will send you dollars. Please advise, @macropterous. #Google $GOOG (second try)

Gainers

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
AMD, +0.00%
extended gains for the fifth session to advance 7.3%, taking the crown as the best performer on the S&P 500 Index
SPX, -0.23%
Last week, the company said it is putting up a 60-acre campus in Austin, Texas, for sale to raise up to $200 million.

December rally not a sure thing

(17:27)

Paul Vigna and Steven Russolillo discuss why there’s no guarantee that stocks will rally at the end of the year.

Dell
US:DELL
shares came off earlier highs to trade up 4.4%. Goldman Sachs upgraded the computer maker to buy from sell and lifted its price target to $13 from $9. Among the reasons for the upgrade, Goldman said the deep pessimism surrounding the sector has become consensus and sentiment and expectations could tilt positively in 2013.

Shares of Supervalu
SVU, +0.33%
climbed 13% following a report in The Wall Street Journal that said Cerberus Capital Management, which is already working on an acquisition of Supervalu, could be considering multiple options for the grocer. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the Journal reported there was talk of a deal to buy Supervalu’s entire business, and then another to buy up its Albertsons stores. Parties were reportedly “actively negotiating” over the weekend, according to the report.

Decliners

Bankrate Inc.
RATE, +0.55%
shares declined 7.2% after RBC Capital Markets lowered the stock to sector perform from outperform. “We have yet to see any real sign of a turn in either the insurance or credit-card business; we don’t think RATE will return to material growth anytime soon,” RBC analysts wrote in a report.

Bankrate also was cut to hold from buy by Michael Graham at Canaccord Genuity.

Netflix Inc.
NFLX, +2.47%
shares closed down 7%. Analysts at Wedbush said the company is not likely to record a profit in 2013 as its DVD business declines. “We continue to believe there are few catalysts for continued domestic streaming growth, as Netflix has already converted the vast majority of potential streaming subs on mobile devices, consoles, and smart TVs into paying subs,” the analysts said.

They also do not see many potential suitors for the company and think the stock is overvalued.

Carl Icahn, who bought a 10% stake in Netflix in October, has hinted that he would like to see the company put itself up for sale.

Zynga
ZNGA, +0.40%
shares slid 9.3% following reports of more high-level executive departures. Vice President Roy Sehgal and Steve Schreck, a general manager, are leaving the maker of social games. Sehgal is resigning to take time off work and Schreck is leaving to join a game startup founded by a Zynga alumnus, Mike Verdu, Bloomberg reported. See: Zynga executive Sehgal departs.

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